Some Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) employees are currently in a legal strike position. Therefore, service in certain offices across the country may be disrupted.

Meanwhile, Treasury Board Secretariat and Public Service Alliance of Canada representatives are still working to reach a new collective agreement.

For information on the current status of collective bargaining, please visit the Treasury Board of Canada Internet site.

Q1. In the event of a strike, will services continue to be provided? Will they be limited?

A1. Service will depend on the level of strike activity. If there are rotating strikes, some services will be delayed or sporadic. In the case of a full strike, designated staff will deal with essential services only (see Question 2).

Q2. Which services are considered essential?

A2. Essential services are those considered necessary for the safety or security of the public. Eligibility decisions on refugee claims (front-end security screening, fingerprinting) and income assistance to government-assisted refugees are considered essential.

Q3. How will a strike affect people seeking tourist visas?

A3. There will be no impact on this service. Staff working at Canadian missions and consulates outside of Canada are not affected by the current job action.

Q4. How will a strike affect people trying to immigrate to Canada?

A4. Applications for permanent residence require months to process, so short or rotating strikes will have little impact on people applying from within Canada.

Q5. What effect will a strike by CIC staff have on the public in general?

A5. Many services at CIC will be disrupted according to the level of strike action. For example, citizenship ceremonies will be delayed. Call centre service will not be available during a strike and afterwards service may be slower than usual as the call volume will probably be very high. Applications for permanent resident (PR) cards will also be delayed. Clients who have not received their PR cards will still be able to travel abroad, but they will have to apply for a travel document at the Canadian consulate in the country they are visiting in order to return to Canada.